Google Messages starts rolling out latest text field redesign

Abner Li | Dec 3 2024 - 10:38 am PT

After abandoning the previous design a few months ago, Google Messages is back with another redesign of the text field.

At the start of 2024, it seemed that Google was set on a pill-shaped compose field with buttons for (from left-right): emoji, Magic Compose, Gallery, and the ‘plus’ menu. Voice Messages was a separate circle to the right, which would change to the Send button once text was entered.

This change was then reverted after rolling out to stable users, with Google returning to the old design that had three side-by-side buttons for the Plus, Gallery, and Magic Compose. The text field was right-aligned with emoji and voice memo shortcuts. This design looks incredibly cramped, especially at the left.

Today, with the latest Google Messages beta, we’re seeing a left-aligned text field but with buttons in a new order. The Plus remains at the left (which is nice for muscle memory), while it’s then Magic Compose, Emoji first, and Gallery last. Voice Memo/Send is still outside.

After text is entered, you’re down to the Plus and Emoji.

Hopefully, Google Messages has settled on this text field redesign. It would be nice if Google brought back Magic Compose/Rewrite shortcut in the row of smart reply suggestions to clean up the pill.

We’re seeing this after updating to beta version 20241202_01_RC00 (and a Force stop from App info after that). It’s not yet widely rolled out.

This update is also showing the redesign of read receipts, but only in the main message list. It does not appear inside conversations, and might be a bug.

Old vs. new